The Chicago Bears made one of their smartest moves this offseason by keeping defensive backs coach Al Harris in the building. After leading a secondary that snagged an NFL-best 23 interceptions in 2025 and turned cornerback Nahshon Wright and safety Kevin Byard into Pro Bowlers, Harris was a hot commodity. The Green Bay Packers and others came calling for his services as a defensive coordinator, but the Bears locked him in for another season—though head coach Ben Johnson admits it's only a matter of time before Harris gets that top job.

Now, Harris returns to a secondary that's even more loaded. The Bears added Super Bowl-winning safety Coby Bryant, first-round rookie safety Dillon Thieneman, and fourth-round cornerback Malik Muhammad. That's a lot of new talent, but one name stands out as a potential diamond in the rough: Muhammad.

What makes this pairing special is the familiarity. Muhammad already knows Harris's coaching style, and he's eager to soak up every lesson from a coach who turned Wright into a Pro Bowler in just one year. "He's going to push me to be my best," Muhammad said. "I've seen what he did with other guys, and I know he can do the same for me."

For Bears fans, this is the kind of mentorship that turns raw talent into game-changers. Muhammad has the speed and instincts to thrive in the NFL, but with Harris in his corner, he could develop into a shutdown corner who makes quarterands think twice. And in a division loaded with elite receivers, that's exactly what Chicago needs.

Keep an eye on this rookie—he's got the right coach, the right attitude, and the right opportunity to make a splash in 2026.